California closes major highway, Newsom blames ‘dangerous’ Marines event

A major southern California highway was being shut down while the U.S. Marine Corps stages a demonstration set to involve live fire on Oct. 18, pitting the state’s governor against the federal government yet again.

Interstate 5 will be shut down from Harbor Drive to Basilone Road, a stretch of the main artery over 15 miles, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time, the California Highway Patrol announced the morning of Oct. 18. The news comes after days of back-and-forth between Gov. Gavin Newsom, federal officials and the Marines over whether the demonstration would require any roads to close.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth are scheduled to attend the event at Camp Pendleton, which commemorates the Marines’ 250th anniversary

The Marines said in a statement earlier in the week that the event would take place “on approved training ranges and comport with established safety protocols.”

“No public highways or transportation routes will be closed,” the statement said.

Expect delays by car, rail throughout Southern California, state officials say

An Oct. 18 California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) news release called it an “unscheduled closure.” Interstate 5 will be closed “due to a White House-directed military event at Camp Pendleton involving live ammunition being discharged over the freeway,” Caltrans said.

“Because of the event and closure, drivers should expect delays on Interstate 5 and other state routes throughout Southern California before, during, and after the event,” Caltrans said.

In addition to the coastal freeway, officials said Southern California rail service along the route, which runs from San Diego to Los Angeles, would also be disrupted in the afternoon.

But Newsom, calling it an “absurd show of force,” said the morning of the event that the demonstration would include firing “explosive artillery” over the freeway. The shutdown was decided because of “extreme life safety risk and distraction to drivers, including sudden unexpected and loud explosions,”Newsom said.

“The President is putting his ego over responsibility with this disregard for public safety. Firing live rounds over a busy highway isn’t just wrong – it’s dangerous,” Newsom said in a statement. “Using our military to intimidate people you disagree with isn’t strength – it’s reckless, it’s disrespectful, and it’s beneath the office he holds. Law and order? This is chaos and confusion.”

Interstate 5 is the primary connection between coastal San Diego County and Orange County. The busy freeway travels directly through the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base for nearly 20 miles, with no other major thoroughfares in the region.

The Marines told USA TODAY in a statement on Oct. 18 it did not request the closure.

“We appreciate the public’s patience as Marines and Sailors conduct realistic training during today’s historic Amphibious Capabilities Demonstration, showcasing the strength and unity of the Navy-Marine Corps team and ensuring we remain ready to defend the Homeland and our Nation’s interests abroad,” the statement reads.

A Vance spokeswoman pointed to the Marines’ statement when asked for comment.

Newsom said Caltrans received a request from the event organizers to display signage along I-5 that reads “Overhead fire in progress.” State officials also observed live munitions being fired near the freeway on Oct. 17 in an apparent test run, the governor said.

Drivers should expect delays on I-5 and other routes on Oct. 18, the governor’s office said, noting that 65,000 vehicles cross between San Diego and Orange counties each day using the route.

Rep. Mike Levin, a California Democrat whose district includes Camp Pendleton, said on social media that public safety and the Marine Corps’ reputation are “far more important than the political agendas of J.D. Vance or Pete Hegseth.

“We can and should celebrate the Marine Corps in a manner that honors their proud legacy without compromising safety or community wellbeing,” he said.

On social media, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, a Republican representing Camp Pendleton and surrounding communities, said the “freeway shutdown shows exactly what’s wrong with politics.”

“No accountability, no planning — just finger-pointing while everyday people sit in traffic, miss work, and watch their plans fall apart,” he said.

Contributing: Zac Anderson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Interstate 5 closed amid Marines event Newsom calls ‘dangerous’